Review of Dua Lipa's 'Future Nostalgia' Album

Even though Dua Lipa seems to be going more niche with the direction that she has chosen, the love I have for her music is growing. The last album, 'Future Nostalgia,' is one of the pandemic albums that really pulled me through when I was hiking alone in the mountains of Bulgaria. Great beat, great vocals, and the rhythm are just motivational. She really came through with that album and carved a direction in the pop genre. I remember everybody was shell-shocked because the sound was brand new, and the direction was unbelievable, yet she got that record on the charts, and now it is a pop classic.

I love Dua Lipa; she is going places with her new song 'Houdini,' although the numbers are low compared to the last hits from the previous eras. Nevertheless, the music once again sounds like she is about to change the game. And how niche can you get if you are still a worldwide sensation? I cannot wait to hear her new record and the psychedelic vibe she picked as the mainline of the album, but we are here to discuss her last project.

'Future Nostalgia' is solid proof of her talent. I love that she went that way when everyone expected her to stay in the past. This album screams total evolution; you can still hear her previous sound here, but the upgrade is astonishing. Are you familiar with the feeling when the album is perfect, and you can just press play and hear it from top to bottom? This one is like that, and there are no songs I would skip. It is built perfectly, and every brick of sound fits right in.

Pressing play, and we start with the title track 'Future Nostalgia.' At this point, I know every track here, but when it started back then, the new sound she presented here was refreshing and uplifting. Listening to it a couple of years later, it has the same qualities.

Next, we have 'Don't Start Now.' This song was even more special; I think it was the first single, and I was going through a breakup, and this beat saved my life.

This album really sounds like a future nostalgia, who came up with that title, incredible. As 'Cool' as this track is, the next is fire.

'Physical' is another upbeat moving song. And by moving, I mean that you can't stop moving while listening to it. There is common knowledge that she has interesting stage presence as well as dancing skills (the other thing I love about her), and even though they're getting a bit better with her upcoming projects, the reality back then was that. Nevermind that, because her music is strong enough on its own.

Several songs of hers have multiple incarnations, and 'Levitating' is absolutely great on her own, but she added the rapper DaBaby to the mix, and they both just fit.

Man, I remember 'Pretty Please' picking me up on a brutal 24-day hike alone in the mountain. This whole album was one of the saviors. Especially when there was a lot of time until the hut, but you could see the sun going down, and you are not sure of the direction, and the last song you hear is Dua Lipa's before your battery dies. And you play the song because you know from experience, 3 minutes are not enough to locate yourself and the hut. And this is how side one of the vinyl ends.

Another pumping track begins. 'Hallucinate' is kind of a psychedelic pop record that I totally love. What a cool album! I think you can only gather my enthusiasm if you hear me speak my opinion. Can reading recreate the excitement?

I just read that 'Love Again' is the favorite song of Dua Lipa on this album; that's insane. It includes a sample of the trumpet from Lew Stone's 1932 recording 'My Woman.' I always thought that this is a song by White Town because I am young, I guess, compared to the people from 1932. Another dance-pop, electro record that I love, although I hate the video.

The next song's video I love, and it was shot in Bulgaria, and I will always keep that in mind while listening to it. Man, this album is really, really special! Hit after hit, back to back. 'Break My Heart.' I also recall seeing RuPaul's Drag Race's winner Symone dancing with Olivia Lux, lip-syncing for their lives on this song.

We are almost done, two songs to go. 'Good in Bed' is a lyrical fun. I think she has a lot of fun creating. In some interviews of hers, she always seems to be down to earth, and this success that she created for herself is so well deserved.

The last track is kind of preachy, and I admit I sometimes skip it. I know, I know, I said that I don't do that here. But sometimes this narrative that men - bad, women - good, is kind of annoying. So many nuances all around. But still, listening to it, I understand that women are subjected to different criteria than men, and men can get around much more stuff easily, but come on, not all of us are bad.

This album is a capsule in space and time, and I am so happy that I have it on vinyl. I was wondering why did I buy vinyl if I have the CD? The sound is better, the feeling is better; it is like you own a real piece of art. Owning a CD will become modern again in about 10 to 20 years. Until then, I will deal with the vinyl. 'Future Nostalgia' is the game, and I am happy to play it.

Iliya Badev